A complimentary review copy was provided to me.
Life is a little busy for us lately but that didn't stop me from finding time to read. I had a quiet Saturday afternoon (following a busy, productive morning) which was the perfect time to snuggle in on the sofa and finish reading Dusk's Darkest Shores by Carolyn Miller. It is the first book I have read by her and is book 1 in the new Regency Wallflowers series she is writing.
I very much enjoyed reading the book I have long been a fan of Regency literature and like the 'wallflower' spin on this one. The main character Mary is 'nine and twenty' and many assume that she will forever be alone and she is not bothered by the concept. Her father is a doctor and she spends time helping him and calling on patients, which she enjoys doing. She has that right demeanor and touch to make others comfortable and help them through childbirth and recovery from ailments. The other main character is Adam, a soldier who recently returned from the battlefield a hero of the war, faced with a new battle. He suffered an ailment at war that he must now learn to live with. Always a leader and a hero, he has to find his way in an unknown world. Growing up, Adam spent time with Mary's brother and she spent time tagging along with them on some of their adventures, so although they didn't really know one other, they did know of one another and had a small connection. Based on this connection and her ability to help, Mary's father and Adam's mother task her with helping Adam on his journey to recovery. Through many ups and downs they come to be true friends and help each other discover new things.
This story was very enjoyable and it was nice to watch the two main characters grow individually and in their relationship. The author did a great job painting the setting and developing the characters. I felt a connection to them and found myself engaged in their lives, struggles and outcomes. Watching them discover how a person's reactions to adversity reveals their true character and that what really connects us is deeper than looks. I look forward to reading more books by Carolyn Miller in the future.
About the Book
How can a meek wallflower help a returning war hero whose dreams are plunged into darkness?
Mary Bloomfield has no illusions. Her chances for matrimony have long since passed her by. Still, her circumstances are pleasant enough, especially now that she has found purpose in assisting her father with his medical practice in England's beautiful Lake District. Even without love, it's a peaceful life.
That is until Adam Edgerton returns to the sleepy district. This decorated war hero did not arrive home to acclaim and rest, but to a new battle against the repercussions of an insidious disease. Mary's caring nature cannot stand to see someone suffer--but how can she help this man see any brightness in his future when he's plunged into melancholic darkness, his dreams laid waste by his condition?
Adam wants no charity, but he's also no coward. If this gentle woman can work hard, how can he do less? Together they struggle to find a way forward for him. Frustration and antipathy slowly develop into friendship and esteem. Then a summer storm atop a mountain peak leads to scandal--and both Mary and Adam must search the depths of their closed hearts for answers if they hope to find any future path with happiness at its end.
Best-selling author Carolyn Miller is back with a fresh series that will not only thrill readers eager for more of her work, but bring in new fans looking for beautiful writing, fascinating research, deftly woven love stories, and real faith lived out in the Regency period.
Click here to read an excerpt.
About the Author
Carolyn Miller is an inspirational romance author who lives in the beautiful Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia with her husband and four children.
A longtime lover of romance, especially that of Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer’s Regency era, Carolyn holds a BA in English Literature, and loves drawing readers into fictional worlds that show the truth of God’s grace in our lives. She enjoys music, films, gardens, art, travel and food.
A longtime lover of Regency romance, Carolyn's novels have won a number of RWA and ACFW contests. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Australasian Christian Writers.
Learn more about Carolyn at www.carolynmillerauthor.com or find her on Facebook (Carolyn Miller Author), Instagram (@CarolynMillerAuthor), and Twitter (@CarolynMAuthor).
Giveaway!
Enter to win a fun prize pack inspired by the book and its English setting that includes:
- a copy of Dusk’s Darkest Shores
- a canvas bag to carry your latest reads
- a fun pair of Jane Austen socks
- Novel Teas’ English Breakfast tea
- “Drink tea, read books, and be happy” tea spoon
- “Let your faith be bigger than your fear” mug
- Black currant preserves from England
- Wax Lyrical candle from England
a Rafflecopter giveaway
The Giveaway is not hosted by A Busy Mom of Two but is part of the book tour, please see giveaway for official rules and guidelines. No compensation was received for this review. All opinions expressed are my own or that of my family. A complimentary review copy was provided to me.
